Aeroplane.



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AER'GPLANE. Y APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1916.". Y

Patented Jan. l16, 1917; l

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AEROPLANE.

APPLlcAloN FILED APR. 8. 191s.

Patented Jan. 16,1917.

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244. AtUNAU l lUb A. G. HOLDER, JR.

AEROPLNE.

AZPILICATION -FILED APR. 8,1916. Patented Jan. .16

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ALLEN Gr. HOLDER, JR., 0F LUCEDALE, MISSISSIPPI.

.AEROPLANE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 16, 191'?.

Application filed April 8, 1916. Serial No. 89,843.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, ALLEN G. HOLDER, J r., a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Lucedale, county of George, State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a full and clear specification.

This invention has relation to heavierthan-air flying machines, and its object is to provide a machine which shall be new in construction and principle, which shall pos'- sess natural automatic equilibrium-especially laterally-, which shall be strong and durable with a minimum of structural weight, which shall be capable of being easily guided both horizontally and vertically, and which shall have certain other advantages which will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 4 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 5 is a transveres section through one of the hubs of the circle planes; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section showing more particularly the location of the motor and manner of tilting the planes.

Referring to the drawings annexed by reference characters, a designates a long, light frame on which is pivotally mounted at spaced intervals a series of annular, preferably approximately circular, plates b, through which the aforesaid frame extends. Each plane consists of an annular band c connected to a ring-like hub d by suitable spokes e and guys e. A horizontal, transverse pivot f is suitably mounted within each hub ring upon a rigid cross-bar g, and this pivot f is journaled in the frame a.

To tilt the planes forwardly and backwardly, any suitable mechanism may be employed. I have shown a shaft h within convenient reach of the aviator, this shaft being provided with a worm i which meshes with a worm gear j on one of the pivots f. The planes may be adjusted independently or simultaneously and to the same degree. When they are adapted to be adjusted simultaneously, I provide each hub ring CZ with a pair of diametrically-arranged radial arms Z and connect these arms together by pivotal links m, whereby by simply turning the worm i all the planes may be tilted either 1' and the other carrying the rear propeller s.

Any other suitable propeller arrangement may be employed.

I believe it will be unnecessary to employ any means other than my circle planes for ascending and descending, but should such planes be employed, I may mount one at the forward end of the machine, as shown at t, and adjust this plane by means of cables u which run back over pulleys to a drum fv mounted on the shaft fw, whose operative end is within convenient reach of the aviators seat a' in the car. At the rear, I arrange a combined rudder and plane y and provide for laterally adjusting it by means of cables extending over pulleys to a point near the motor, where the cables are wound upon a drum a mounted upon a shaft b. The shafts w and b may conveniently be arranged, one within the other, so that their lower operating ends will be closely adjacent each other and close to the seat a'.

It will be observed that the under surfaces of the upper and the lower halves of each circle plane are presented at a small angle of incidence, being curved, preferably parabolically, rearwardly and downwardly. Referring especially to Fig. 4, the circle AYDX shows the front edge of the cylinder, while the circle BXCY shows the rear edge of the cylinder. The vertically and parabolically curved surface adjoining these two circular rings represents the contact surface. It will be noted that the maximum degree of curve is through AB and DC and that this curve gradually ilattens and approaches a straight line at the points X Y. Any plane passed through the rim vertically and parallel to the axis of the cylinder will cut equal vertical curves in the contact surfaces; that is, all the vertical curves would be of the same shape and degree and would approach the form of a parabola. It will be noted that the curvature of the longitudinal planes tilting about the geometrical axis of the machine, or the planes represented by the different radii and geometrical axis, will be lface of the circle plane.

constantly changing from the highest de gree at the point A to zero at X and Y, and then from X and Y it will increase to maximum again at the lowest point D. The action of the air to lift the machine is vertical; therefore it is essential that the vertical fore and aft curve of the contact surface be of a uniform degree.

As shown especially in Fig. 4, the center of gravity is below the geometrical center of the machine or the natural center line of rotation of the machine. The forces of the air, acting on the inclined circular surfaces AXBY and DXCY, act perpendicularly to the tangent at the point of contact, or along radii of the curve; therefore the graphical representation of each force, due to the atmospheric pressure on the contact surface, would be projected to the geometrical center of the circle plane. The resultant of the forces would be upward and lie in the vertical plane. The force of gravity would be downward toward the center of the earth. In the event the machine bodily revolve out of its natural vertical plane when suspended in the air, the force of gravity, acting through a point below the geometrical center, would tend to revolve the machine back to a normal position. Now the main point of consideration here is the fact that should a local disturbance slightly axially revolve the machin-e out of its normal position, there would be practically no resistance to overcome (except the skin friction) in resuming its natural upright position, because there are no projections of planes in the makeup of circle plane to offer resistance to the tendency of gravity to set the machine right. The circle plane simply slides through the air edgewise, so to speak, in righting itself. Another feature of the circle plane that obviously gives it an advantage over all other aeroplanes, is the fact that none of the forces of the air upon it are at such extreme distance from the center line of the machine that an advantage once gained by a local disturbance would upset it. Let us consider for a moment the action of' the pressure of a disturbing tendency acting vertically and upwardly at the point P in Fig. 4. RP represents the direction of the force; at the point P this local disturbing force comes into contact with the sur- The disturbing force or element would defiect from the tangent plane of the circle plane at an angle deflection equal to the incident angle made with the plane. The resultant force affecting the circle plane would be mostly along the radial line PH. The effect of the disturbance would not be so much to upset the machine, but merely to displace it laterally without disturbing its equilibrium to any material extent. According to the laws of the actions of gases under pressure, every pressure is perpendicular to the plane of the body acted upon. In the case of the aeroplane, therefore, a disturbing force acts perpendicular to the plane of the machine, which is nothing short of a lever of which the disturbing factor makes use to destroy the equilibrium of the machine. For this machine I claim a perfect state of equilibrium under ordinary circumstances. Since my contact surfaces are circular in form, that being the preferred figure for strength and symmetry, it may be built with the least amount of material for the actual strength and stability it possesses. This machine may consist of only one circle plane and the necessary vertical and elevation planes, or it may be made up of any number of the circle planes. I wish especially to protect the circle plane type of machine, both according to the accompanying drawings and the other various forms of a circle plane along the general principle of my machine but probably modified slightly in some respects. It is understood that, should it be so desired, several circle planes successively large in diameter may be concentrically placed in the machine. It might bc noticed that when my machine is in motion, the buoyant effect of the vertical air pressure tending to elevate the machine acts very much in the same respect as the buoyancy of the air on a dirigible balloon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame carrying propelling mechanism; a plurality of annular planes each tiltable on the horizontal axis of the frame; and means for tilting the planes on their axes forwardly and backwardly; the upper part of each of said planes being curved downwardly and backwardly and the lower part being similarly curved, these curves gradually merging into an approximately cylindrical shape at the sides.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame carrying propelling mechanism; a plurality of annular planes each tiltable on the horizontal axis of the frame; and means for simultaneously tilting the planes forwardly and backwardly on their axes; the upper part of each of said planes being curved downwardly and backwardly and the lower part being similarly curved, these curves gradually merging into an approximately cylindrical shape at the sides.

3. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame carrying propelling mechanism; a plurality of annular planes each tiltable on the horizontal axis of the frame, said planes being arranged in tandem on the frame; and means for tilting the planes on their axes forwardly and backwardly; the upper part of each of said planes being curved downwardly and backwardly and the lower 2.41%. HLIUNHU l lbb part being similarly curved, these curves gradually merging into an approximately cylindical shape at the sides.

4. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame; a plurality of annular planes tiltably mounted on said frame and surrounding the same; means for simultaneously tilting these planes forwardly and backwardly; and propelling means mounted on the frame; the upper part of each of said planes being curved downwardly and backwardly and the lower part being similarly curved, these curves gradually merging into an approximately cylindrical shape at the sides.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame; a plurality of annular planes pivotally mounted thereon; means for tilting these planes simultaneously forwardly and backwardly and to the same degree; propelling mechanism mounted on the frame at a point between the planes and arranged to depend from the frame so as to bring the center of gravity below the geometrical axis of the aeroplane; the upper part of each of said planes being curved downwardly and backwardly and the lower part being similarly curved, these curves gradually merging into an approximately cylindrical shape at the sides.

6. The combination with a frame; propelling mechanism thereon; an approximately circular plane pivoted on the frame on a horizontal axis; means for tilting the plane on its axis and holding it in its tilted positions, the upper part of said plane being curved downwardly and backwardly, and the lower part being similarly curved, these curves gradually merging into a cylindrical shape at the sides.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ALLEN G. HOLDER, J R.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

